Hundreds Of Illinois Guard Members Deployed To Afghanistan

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Photo credit WBBM Newsradio/Rachel Pierson

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois National Guard is deploying 400 soldiers to Afghanistan.

WBBM Newsradio’s Rachel Pierson was at the General Jones Armory Sunday as families said goodbye.

Steven Tetzlaff, 22, was one of several soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment being sent overseas after a stop in Texas. This is his first deployment.

“Right now, it’s basically a mix of basically all emotions. I’m excited, nervous, stressed, depressed. They all hit, but I know it’ll be over and I’ll be back home.”

The Guard members will be in Afghanistan for a year.

Today marks the largest @USNationalGuard deployment in Illinois in almost a decade. @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/9lw04UG76S

— Rachel Pierson (@WBBMRachel) July 28, 2019